Surface finishing machine



Nov. 24,1953 w. c.

Filed May 5, 1950 BURT A /Q l MII-ii' SURFACE FINISHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS W. C. BURT SURFACE FINISHING MACHINE N ov. 24, 1953 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1950 Patented Nov. 24, `1953 UNITED STATESv eATsNT OFFICE William' C. Burt; Olean, N. Y., assigner to Clair Manufacturing Company, Inc., Olean, N. Y.

Application May 5, 1950; Serial o.160,291"

8 Claims. (Cl. 51-84) This invention relates to surface finishing machines of the type adapted for glazing or polishing articles of manufacture such as hardware or cutlery pieces or the like; and more particularly to machines for surface finishing side or shoulder portions of irregularly shaped articles such as forks or spoons or the like when mounted in gangs for batch processing. i

One' of the objects of the invention is to providean improved glazing or polishing machine adapted to mount a batch of articles of manufacture,v such as a series of tablespoons or forks or the like in row` formation, and to move such rowof articles back and 'forth' between rotating paired bufng rolls. Y

`Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character aforesaid which is controlled for automatic operation in improved manner.v

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an improved machine of the character aforesaid which incorporates improved adjusting facilities so as to readily suit the machine to various types of work.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide a machine as aforesaidv which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is rugged and fool-proof in operation. and which incorporates improved safety provisions for protection' of 'the machine attendant; Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine of the invention; Y Y

Fig. 2 is a` fragmentary section taken along the line II-II of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. '4 isav fragmentary top'v plan of a portion of the' electrical'controlmechanism of the machine; l f

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the portion of the control mechanism of Figli; i

Fig. 6 is a detail of Yone portion of thecontrol mechanism'of Fig. 5; andl f I Fig. 'I .is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic-hydraulic-electrical 'control circuits of lthe mechanism." f s y *l `As illustrated in Fig. 14 the invention is emrbodied in a machine comprising apair of base supports I'-I'which carry `:a horizontalfplatform I2 above which extend opposite end pedestals Ill- |13 rigidly"interconnected at theirtop ends by means of-a cap-piece-ll which as illus- I 2 trated Vin Fig. 3 may conveniently comprise a box beam fabrication. A rail I8 also extends between thepedestals Ill-I4 Ain spaced relation below the cap piece I6 and parallel thereto; and asillustrated in Fig. 3 may conveniently comprise an I beam or the like. f' n VA workpiece carrying frame designated generally bythe numeral 2i? is illustrated to comprise a` box shaped bottom housing portion `22 which enclo'ses the `rail I S in' free sliding relatioI 1`-'thereony and mounts rollers 24v therein, by means of pins 251the 4rollers 2li beingvv arranged to -run upon'the ange portions of the rail I8 so as to thereby" mount the housing portion `22 in free sliding and accurately gui-ded relation thereon. g Oppositeside arms 26 extend upwardly'from the'en'ds of th'e"housing 22 to straddle the cap piece I6; and the arms`26-25 at opposite ends of the device are interconnected by spacerblocks 21 tocomplete thefr'aming of the unit 20 which stabilizes it lin longitudinally-free sliding relation onethe Vslide rail I8. The cap piece I6 mounts a gear rack 28 at'its under surface while the frame portion 22 mounts a similar gear rack 29 andfa gear wheel 3D is disposed in meshing relation therebetween. The gear 30 is connected by means of a'pivot clevis device 3l to thel piston rod` 32 Yof a hydraulic jack 33 which is mounted stationarily upon the cap piece I6 as indicated at'f34. Thus, it willfbe appreciated that'alternatefreverse direction-'operation ofthe hydraulic jack 33'Will force the gear wheel 30 toroll inv corresponding opposite-directions upon the stationary rack 28,'thereby in turn imparting vmo'- tion to the frame 20 at twice the speed of motion of the piston rod.

A work holder of any suitable type such as shown inthe drawing may comprise a frame 35 detachably mounted to extend below the frame' 20 andto have racked thereon a series of articles to be finished, such as a series of tablespoons as indicated at 3B; and thus it will be appreciated that'upon reciprocation of the carriage 20 from right to left and fronleft to right, as illustrated in Fig. 1,` the spoonV blanks 36 will be similarly carried toreciprocate for the glazing or polishing operations upon the shoulder portions thereof, as will be explained hereinafter.

The platform portion I2 of the machine frame supports in integral relation a downwardly extending b'ase plate 40 which is conveniently fabricated to the platform I2 by welding and bracedV by means of transverse web plates l2- 42, or other suitable means. Thus, the base plate 40 Vis disposedto-extend vertically and in longitudinal alignment with the machine frame, and mounts at opposite sides thereof vertically extending shafts 44-44 by means of bearing blocks i5-48; the shafts 44 extending both above and below the elevation of the platform portion I2. Below the level of the platform I2 each of the shafts lill carries in keyed relation therewith a vertically disposed bracket plate 48 which carries a hinge device 49 pivotally connecting the bracket 48 to a motor base plate 50 upon which is mounted an electric motor 52. Also, each of the shafts 4d mounts in keyed relation thereon and below the level of the platform I2, a crank arm 54 which carries at its outer end a pivot pin 55. One of the pins 55 is bored and screwthreaded to receive therein a threaded rod 56 (Fig. 2) which carries at one end an adjustment handle 58 and is arranged to abut at its other end against a shoulder portion of the other crank arm, so as.

to thereby limit the degree to which the crank arms 5ft-5d may move towardA each other, for purposes to be explained hereinafter. The other crank arm connects by means of its pivot pin device to a piston rod 59 to a pneumatic cylinder S0.

At their upper ends the shafts i4-d4 mount arms 62 (Fig. 1) which extend radially therefrom parallel to the corresponding crank arms 54-54 disposed therebelow; each of the arms 62 carrying at its outer end an extension shaft piece 03 terminating in a cylindrical cuff portion 65 which mounts in vertically extending relation therethrough a vertically splined telescopic bearing sleeve 55. The object of the adjustable bearing is to facilitate vertical adjustment of the bumng wheel 68 by means ofthe handle 5l while maintaining a driving relation between the wheel and the pulley 69; over which thel belt 'i trains. Preferably vertical adjustment is made without requiring change in the vertical position of the pulley, as by use of a spline shaft device or the like, which is of a conventional construction of the type used in drill presses. Thus, it will be appreciated that operation of the motors 52-52 will drive the polishing or glazing wheels 58 to rotate for glazing or polishing the work pieces 3B whenever the frame 2i) is operated to pass the work holder rack 35 backward and forward between the wheels 68. Set screws 'lll are arranged to extend between the motor plates 50 and the brackets 43V so as to permit adjustments thereof for tension adjustments of the drive belts l). A gear arrangement is provided in one of the bearing pedestals 45 and controlled by a hand crank I6 (Fig. 1) for lateral swinging adjustments of the wheel carrying arm 62 so as to permit ad justments of one of the arms relative to the gear device SEB-80 so as to compensate for unequal wear of the work surfaces of the polishing wheels so that the wheels will always close i-n accurately centered relation upon the work carriage; and the arms 62 carry gear devices operated by hand cranks 18 for rotating the extension shafts 8 3 relative to the arms 52, to provide for angular adjustments of the working surfaces o f the wheels 68 to suit the machine to differently shaped work pieces.

The crank arms 54-54 are fitted at their inner ends adjacent the shafts 44-44 with gear segments 80-80 which intermesh and thereby drive both of the shafts 44-44 in synchronism in response to operation of the pneumatic cylinder 6,0.. Thus, it will be understood that upon operation of the cylinder 60 the arms 54-54 will be thereby actuated so as to rock` the vertical vwhen the holder has cleared the wheels.

shafts 44-44 about their axes, causing the polishing wheels 63--68 to be correspondingly displaced toward or away from each other while the entire motor and mounting bracket assemblies also pivot with the respective shafts 44-44 to maintain the polishing wheels and driving motors in proper positional relation. Thus, the polishing Wheels Sli-68 may be opened and closed incidental to each polishing orf glazing operation so as to retract away from the path of movement of the work holder frame 35 back and forth between the wheels and to come together for working contact with the work pieces In this manner the wheels 68-68 may be positioned to polish relatively narrow work pieces such as the illustrated spoons 36 and yet clear the relatively wider work holder frame end portions. However, as explained hereinabove, the adjustment screw 56 is manually controlled by the handle 58, and so may be set to limit the degree of movement of the polishing wheels (5G-68 toward one another whenever the cylinder is actuated to bring the wheels together; thereby fixing the gap between the wheels 68-58 to the desired width, depending upon the shape andsize of' the work pieces to be handled.

The work piece carriage motivating mechanism o f the invention includes a suitable. hydraulicI pressure supplysource suchy as al pump (Figs. 1 and 7) driven by a motor 86, drawing oil from a reservoir 8? (Fig. '7) and delivering oil under pressure to the hydraulic jack` 33 through a conduit 08. Passage of oil through the conduit 83 is controlled by a valve 8S, and a relief valve @o and return conduit 9| is arranged in conjunction with the conduit 08 ahead of the: control valve 89' so as to permit the pressured oil to circulate whenever the valve 89 is closed so that ,the pump may operate continuously. The conduit 8,8 leads from., the valve 89 toa two.- way valve 92 which is controlled by a pair of solenoids S93-S4 to deliver oil under pressure, and to permit oil return alternately to opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder 33 upon corresponding shifting of the solenoid controlled valve. polishing wheel control cylinder 6.8. is arranged to be powered by any suitable air pressure source such as` a conduit 95 which leads to the intake Dort of a two-way valve 96 which is controlled bya pair Of Solenoids Srl-98 for alternate. introduction of air under pressure into the opposite ends of the cylinder B0. The valve 96 includes exhaust. ports 516e which may simply exhaust to the atmosphere as shown. The solenoids, g3g-9:4 and 97,-98 are arranged tov be energized from a suitable power source such as a transformer 9.9'

by means of a control systemV as will be described hereinafter.

A group of microswitches as indicated at |0I, |02, |03, |04, |05, |06 are mounted within the top rail I6 with the actuating button portions thereof directedl upwardly for contact With depending toe portions4 of control devices designatedA wt, |09, III), II Ii, respectively (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5.). The control devices |08, |09, IIU, III are slidably carried upon a slide rod IIVZ: which extends between the end block` portions 2'I-2`l of the frame 20, and the slide rod II2 is preferably supported intermediately of its. ends by means of a vertical strut, I t4 (Fig. 1) extending from thel lower frame member 22. Furthermore, the control device |08, |09, t|0, II are positionally regulated by means of screw devicesy III,` III which are rotatably mountedA to extend from the end blocks '2l- 2l The andato becontrolled `by; corresponding flhand cranks ||8, ||9, so that the positions of the conwardly from its pivotal connection with the main body portion thereof and is pivotable thereon in l only one direction.

- Thus, whenever the toe is being displaced by movement of the carriage 20'v longitudinally of the machineso as to bringthe.straightsided portion of the toe into abutting relation against the top crowned end portion of the actuating button of one of the microswitches as rindicated at `|22 in Fig. 6, the toe is prevented by thebody portion as Vindicated at |09 `from pivoting about its' connection therewith and is thereby forced to press lfirmly 'against the crowned top Vportion of .the microswitch actuator so as to depress the latter as the toe passes over the position ofthe microswitch,` kthereby .momentarily closing the switch. YHowever, it will be appreciated that upon subsequent return movement of the carriage over the position of the microswitch the toe will be permitted to pivot freely upon its connection with the body portion |09 so that it simply rides over the crowned top portion of the microswitchactuator thereby avoiding operation ofthe switch.v Y

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the pivoted toe portions ofthe actuator devices |09 and are faced in thedirection as illustrated in Fig. 6, while the toe portions ofthe actuators |08 and ||0 face in the opposite direction; and as illustrated in Fig.' 4, the actuators |08A and are in longitudinal alignment with the centrally'disposed microswitches |02 and |05, while the actuator |09 is in longitudinal alignment with the switches |03 and k|06 and the actuator ||0 is in'alignment with the switches and |04.

As illustrated by Fig. '7, the microswitches |`0|, |02/|031, |04, |05, |06 are arranged to control electrical'circuits deriving energy from the transformer 99 through suitable conductor and ground connections, for alternate two-way actuations of the 'hydraulic and pneumatic control valves 92496, respectively. 'For this purpose the circuits include a normally closed microswitch |20 anda normally open microswitch |22, both of which are' arranged adjacent a moving end portion |24 of a control handle |25 which is operably connected to the hydraulic control valve 89 referred to hereinabove. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7, the handle |25 is arranged tobe manually pushed downwardly so as to start the machine in operation,and tol be pulled upwardly so as tostop the machine; and the control device is arrangedso as to permit the handle |25 to be actuated to a limited degreein either direction from'neutral for control of the valve 89 without corresponding actuation of the switches |20 and |22.v Then, further displacement of the handle |25 `in either direction will thereupon cause the microswitches |20- |22 to be actuated to their abnormal open or-closed positions, as the case may be. l s

` Inasmuch as either one of the solenoids 93-94 will havebeen last energized just prior to any previous controlled stopping of the machine, it will be understood that when the machine is at restv the valve 92 will be in position to direct oil under ,pressure into one end or the other ofthe `hydraulic. .cylinder `v33. Then, upon openinge-of the valve 89, as by depression of the handle |25, oil will be delivered by the pump throughthe Vconduit A88 and through the valve 92 so as. to nthereupon drive the piston in the cylinder 33 to move-the carriage 20 towardeither the, right .o1l

the leftas viewed in Fig. 1. For example, commencing from a position of rest as illustrated in Fig.l 1, and assumingthat the valve 92 is then set so as to cause the cylinderI 33 to drive the 'carriage to move toward the right when the handle |25 is depressed, the carriage will thereupon move the work pieces 30 through the polishing gap between the-wheels 63-68 and will continuato tuator button of the microswitch |06, thereby momentarily closing the latter. This will immediately close that portion of the circuit comprising conductors |30, |3I, |32, |33, |34, which causes the solenoid 94 to be energized, thereby drawing the armature of the valve 92 over into its other position so as to thereby direct the hy,- draulic pressure to ow into the opposite endof the cylinder 33, causing reversal of the carriage travel. Then, after the Work pieces havebeen thereby again moved through the polishing gap from right to left as viewed in Fig. 1, the carriage will continue to move to vthe left until such' time as the actuator ||0 comes into bearing relation against the button portion of the microswitch |0| so as to thereby depress and close the lattermomentarily which closes the circuit comprising the conductors |30, |`3|, I35,i|36 causing the solenoid f portion 93 to be energized so as to' draw 'the core of the valve 92 over again into its original position to cause thecarriage to again reverse and start to travel toward the right as explained hereinabove. l

Thus, it will be appreciated that subsequent to commencement of the carriage travel operation, the carriage will continue to travel back and forth, automatically reversing its direction of travel without operator-attention until such time as the operation is interrupted as will be explained hereinafter; and that the positional ad#A justment lof the actuators |03, |09, H0, |||"'aS provided for by the control Ahandles |8| I9 will correspondingly regulate the amplitude oi carriage movement as well as the-positionalrange thereof relative to the machine bed to suit the machine to different work set-ups. i

Alsofas illustrated inv Figs. l and '7,' the electrical control circuit of the mechanismv includes a normally open microswitch |29 which when closed completes a circuit including the conductorslSil, |3|, |31, |38, |34 causing thesolenoid 93 to be energized irrespective of the vposijtion of the switch |20. Thus, subsequent to completion of a polishing operation on a batch of work pieces, the' control handle |25 maybe depressed further downwardly' than is required to open the hydraulic valve 89, so that the handle portion |25 operates to open the microswitch |25, whereby thecircuit including the normal carriage reverse switch |05 will be rendered'i'n'# active.` ward the'right as viewed in Fig. lthe switch |06 will be impotent when actuated fto reversethe carriage travel, and the' carriage will continue to move on over to the right until the operator moves the handle |25 to stop position. This enables the operator to control the carriage to move well away from the position of the polish-4 ingwheel 68-68,.so that theworkV piece holder- Hence, as the carriage ZE?f moves to support a plurality of work pieces in stacked' relation on said work holder for single lile passage between said rolls for polishing or glazing purposes, power supply means coupled to said work holder for said oscillation thereof, and automatic control means connected to said power means and adapt-ed and arranged to be actuated upon movements of said work holder leading :and trailing end frame portions relative to said rolls into positions adjacent therewith and adapted to thereupon actuate Vsaid power means to cause said rolls to open out of said work contacting positions to avoidrinterference with said frame portions, and to be actuated by and upon movements of said holder when retreating from positions wherein said frame and said rolls are adjacent and adapted to thereupon actuate said power means to cause said rolls to close to said work contacting positions for polishingr or glazing purposes.

3. In a polishingr and glazing machine, in combination, a pair of polishing rolls movably mounted in opposition to each other, means connected to the rolls to drive the same, power meansconnected to the rolls `for alternately opening and closing said rolls relative to each other from and to work contacting positions, a Work holder including leading and trailing end frame portions, said holder being movably mounted for reciprocaton endwise in the gap between said rolls in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rolls, said work holder including a support structure constructed and arranged so as to support a plurality of work pieces in stacked relation intermediate said leading and trailing frame portions thereof for single nle passage between said rolls for polishing or glazing purposes, reversal control power supply means coupled to said work holder for said reciprocaton thereof, automatic control means connected to said power means and adapted and arranged to be actuated by and upon movements of said work holder approaching positions of adjacency of said holder frame portions and said rolls in said reciprocaton and adapted to thereupon actuate said power means to `cause said rolls to open out of said work contacting positions to avoid interference with said frame portions, andto be actuated by and upon movements of said holder retreating from positions of adjacency of said frame and said rolls and adapted to thereupon actuate said power means to cause said rolls to close to said Work contacting positions for polishing or glazing purposes, and reversing automatic control means connected to said power supply means and adapted and arranged to be actuated by and upon movements of said work holder beyond the positions of roll opening operations and adapted to thereupon cause said power supply control means to reverse for reciprocaton of said holder frame, whereby said holder frame reciprocates beyond the position of roll opening operations.

Y 4. In a polishing and glazing machine, in combination, a vpair of polishing rolls rotatably mounted on axes movable in opposition to each other, means connected to the rolls to drive the same, power rmeans connected to the rolls for alternately opening and closing said rolls relative` to each other from and to work contacting positionsfa work holder including leading and trailing end frame portions, said holder being movably mountedfor oscillation endwise in the gap between the rolls in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rolls, said workholcler l0 being constructed and arranged so as to support work piece supporting means extending between said leading and trailing frame arranged for supporting a plurality of work pieces in stacked relation on said work holder for single le passage between said rolls for polishing or glazing purposes, reversal control power supply means coupled to said work holder for said oscillation thereof, automatic control means connected to said power means and adapted and arranged to be actuated by and upon movements of said work holder approaching positions of adjacency of said holder end lframe portions and said rolls in said oscillation and adapted to thereupon actuate said power means to cause said rolls to open out of said work contacting positions to avoid interference with said frame portions, and to be actuated by and upon movements of said holder retreating from positions of adjacency of said end vframe positions and said rolls and adapted to thereupon actuate said power means to cause said rolls to close to said work contacting positions for polishing or glazing purposes, and re versing automatic control means connected to said V'power supply means and adapted and arranged to be actuated by and upon movements of said work holder beyond the positions of roll opening operations and adapted to thereupon cause said power supply control means to reverse for oscillation of said holder frame.

5. In a polishing and glazing machine, in combination, a pair of polishing rolls rotatably mounted upon movable vertical axes, means connested to the rolls to drive the same, power means connected to the rolls for alternately opening and closing said rolls relative to each other from and to work contacting positions, a work holder including leading and trailing end frame portions, said holder being shiftably mounted for reciprocation in the gap between the rolls in av plane parallel to the longitudinal 4axes of the rolls, said work holder including support means extending between said leading and trailing frame portions for supporting a plurality of work pieces in stacked relation for lsingle le passage between said rolls for polishing or glazing purposes, reversal control power supply means coupled to said work holder for reciprocaton thereof, automatic control means connected to said power means and adapted and arranged to be actuated upon movements of said work holder approaching positions of adjacenoy of said holder frame portions and said rolls and adapted to thereupon actuate said power means to cause said rolls to open out of said work contacting positions to avoid interference with said frame portions, and to be actuated by movements of said holder retreating from positions of adjaoency of said frame and said rolls and adapted to thereupon i means and adapted and arranged to be actuated 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the Work holder is slidably mounted upon a horizontal track for reciprocating movement and includes a portion which is shiftable vertically relative to the horizontally movable portion.

7-. In a polishing machine, inv combinationfa polishing tool mounted for movement into and out of an operative position, means operatively connected with said tool for driving the same, power operated means connected with said tool and serving to alternately move the tool into and out of an operative position, a work holder movably mounted for reciprocation adjacent to and inV a plane substantially parallel to the tool, said work holder including a work supporting means arranged for supporting the work in position for polishing engagement by said tool as the work holder is reciprocated, power means for reciprocating the work holder, and control means connected with the power means and responsive to movement of the work holder approaching a position of adjacency between end portions of the holder and said tool and adapted to thereupon actuate the power means to move the tool out oi itsworking position and thereby avoid interference with the said end portions of the frame and to be also actuated by movement of the holder retreating from a position of adjacency l2 between the frame and saidftool and to thereupon actuate the power means to cause the tool to move to a work contacting position for polishing purposes.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein the polishing tool is a roll rotatably mounted for turning about a vertical axis and shiftable transversely of the Work holder toward and away from the same into and out of an operative position during reciprocating movements of the work holder.

WILLIAM C. BURT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

